Djibouti – Djibouti’s constitutional council on Wednesday validated results of last week’s presidential poll which showed that incumbent Ismael Omar Guelleh won 80% of votes in a contest boycotted by the opposition.

The 63-year-old Guelleh faced a single independent candidate, Mohamed Warsama Ragueh, who took 19% in last Friday’s elections.

Opposition groups had stayed out of the polls in protest at constitutional changes overseen by Guelleh that allowed him to run for a third term, but which he said would be his last.

Turnout from the 152 000 registered voters was 75%.

Guelleh has ruled the small but strategic country since 1999.

Djibouti hosts the largest oversees French military base as well as the only US army base in Africa.

- AFP

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